David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and I congratulate her and the Government for its vision. I also pay my compliments to Senator Ó Ríordáin. I remember him speaking very passionately about this in the House when he was Minister of State. I myself have spoken about it on many occasions. Some 25 years ago I advocated the legalisation of opioid drugs and rather curiously, I was supported in that by the late Deputy, Dr. John O'Connell, who was then Fianna Fáil spokesman on health. We have come a long way since those days.

I have three comments on the Minister of State's speech. First, as with other colleagues, I completely welcome the Government decision that this should be a health-led rather than a criminal matter. It should never have been a criminal matter. As I recall, anti-drug legislation was first introduced in the early 20th century at the instigation of the pharmaceutical companies so it has a rather dubious background.

The Minister of State says regarding section 3 that there should be consultation with the Garda, the HSE and so on about the granting of licences. It may lead to some friction, but I would also suggest that it would be good policy to also include local communities and bring them along in this matter.

Finally, the legislation excludes people who are under the age of 18, those who are not chronic intravenous drug users, which is okay, and those who are pregnant. I understand the difficulties in dealing with people who are underage or who are pregnant but if we look at the reality, they are probably going to get the drugs - in fact, I guarantee they will - and they are going to inject them somewhere. We need to look very carefully at that. There may be legal reasons particularly for those under 18, I do not know, but if people are taking drugs, if they are chronic intravenous drug users, whether they are under 18 years or pregnant, if they are going to do it anyway, surely it is better that they do it in a decent facility.

I remember an experiment many years ago. I think in both cases they were done by Catholic priests, one in Rotterdam and the other in Liverpool, where they introduced injection facilities in the crypt of their churches. Criminal activity in the local area dropped by 80% but then some do-gooder went and reported it to Maggie Thatcher who was around at the time and of course it was slammed down and shut to the detriment of people living in that area.

These drug injecting facilities should not all be located in the north inner city. This is not NIMBY-ism, it is just that our back yard is full to bursting, we have so many of these kinds of centres already. I think they should be shared out proportionately although I do, of course, recognise -----